Two Balik Probinsya beneficiaries positive for COVID-19 in Leyte

Two beneficiaries of the government’s Balik Probinsya program in Baybay City and Tanauan in Leyte have tested positive for the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos Cari said the patient in his city had undergone the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

“We now have our first confirmed COVID case in the city. I am officially announcing this to avoid misinformation,” the mayor said on Facebook.

Cari said city health workers are conducting contact tracing to determine the persons who have had contact with the COVID patient, who is now under quarantine.

He assured Baybay residents that the city health department is prepared to handle COVID cases.

Cari also asked residents to stay calm and to continue observing health protocols against COVID-19.

The local government of Tanauan, Leyte also confirmed on Facebook that a 26-year-old male beneficiary of the Balik Probinsya program tested positive for COVID-19 based on his PCR test, which came out on May 25. 

The Tanauan government said the asymptomatic COVID-19 patient is now under strict monitoring at the Municipal Quarantine Center (MQC).

Authorities say six other beneficiaries of the Balik Probinsya program in Tanauan, Leyte have tested negative in the PCR test.

Balik Probinsya is a pet project of Senator Bong Go that aims to send some residents in Metro Manila back to their home provinces amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The province of Leyte is one of the pilot areas for the Balik Probinsya program, which started last week.